I’m with you there, Luis. The sad thing is, of the 9 historic theaters on the block (not counting the stripped down and presumably unsalvageable Anco) that were touted to be held by either the State or the 42nd Street Development Corp for preservation and restoration, we really only have three theaters that remain in a state of preservation: the Selwyn, New Amsterdam and New Victory (another gem).

On a secondary tier of preservation, the shell of the Empire Theatre remains as a lobby to the AMC multiplex that bears its name, and the Lyric and Apollo Theatres were disassembled with only segments of historical interior elements (mostly from the Apollo) used in the reconstructed theater that now sits within their combined footprint.

The Times Square still sits there with its future up in the air and reports are that the Liberty’s auditorium – which sat vacant but largely intact for many years – has recently been stripped away. And most unforgiveably, the Harris Theatre – which was in as good a shape as any of the theatres on the block – wasn’t even given any consideration for preservation, having been completely demolished for the Madame Tussaud’s project.

While I celebrate the survival of the Selwyn, New Amsterdam and New Victory, I bemoan the loss of the Lyric and Harris and feel saddened as the slim hopes for the Times Square and Liberty seem to be slipping away.

Agreed Ed, from what I’ve read about the Beacon, it is truly spectacular. But I still came away disappointed from the Selwyn nonetheless. That said, there is no doubt that the Selwyn was never in the same league as its more celebrated brethren. I’m still very happy that the theater was saved.

In all fairness, I’m sure Disney had a significantly bigger budget for their restoration of the New Amsterdam (which was also in a poorer state of disrepair) than the Roundabout had for its clean-up of the old Selwyn. The New Amsterdam sparkles like the crown jewel that it is. I haven’t been inside the Beacon Theatre since its multi-million dollar overhaul by Cablevision, but I imagine it is on a par with the work done at the New Amsterdam.

I have to say that I have to agree. The New Amsterdam is a stunning achievement where this theater renovation was disappointing (imo). Granted, the New Amsterdam was one of the most beautiful theaters ever built so perhaps it is unfair to compare the two, but I guess I just did. :–)

If you compare it to what Disney did across the street they actually did a pretty half-assed job. The murals are badly faded or covered in dust and many of the wood finishes are damaged or rotting away.

That’s the 42nd Street I remember and loved as a teenager. In fact, I clearly recall seeing the double feature of the British action flick “The Final Option” and the awful horror pic “The Beast Within” at the Times Square Theatre (the marquee of which is partially seen at far right in this image) in October of 1983, which is when I would date this photo. Turned out I had already seen that supporting feature about a year or so earlier when it was the top billed feature somewhere along the block – and when I realized this, about 15 or 20 minutes into the showing, I got up and walked out. One of the few times I ever walked out on a supporting feature anywhere.

In “THE JAMES DEAN STORY”, there are some great shots of Times Square. At 27 minutes and 24 seconds into the film, there is a quick shot of the Selwyn ;on the marquee: “ADVENTURES of ROBIN HOOD” plus “COLORADO TERRITORY”. At the 54 minute mark, there is a great shot of the Fox theatre in Hollywood. Really nice and unique marquee; theatre is showing “CURUCU, BEAST OF THE AMAZON” plus “THE MOLE PEOPLE”. Can be seen- for free- at Hulu.

In Ruth Orkin’s photo, the rounded marquee in the foreground with the man on the ladder belongs to the Apollo Theatre, but the view is too close to make out what program was being presented. But it was probably a double-bill of “foreign” imports.

Just saw The Philanthropist at this theater last night. I haver to admit that I was was too scared to have ever seen a single film on the Deuce back in it’s prime decadent period of the 70’s through early 90’s so this was my first time in the theater and I have to say that it is a very handsome Broadway playhouse; a beautiful restoration and a joy to see a play in as the chairs had ample legroom.

That said, it didn’t have that “movie palace” feeling and obviously it wasn’t built as a movie palace but that didn’t stop the New Amsterdam or Radio City from feeling like palaces even though they too were built for legit and not movies. Still a great theater though!

“THE BIGGEST BUNDLE OF THEM ALL” …lasts 106 minutes, of which the last 15 are worth seeing if you are really intent on going to a movie.

The afternoon price of admission at the Selwyn Theater on 42d Street, where the film opened yesterday, is only 85 cents; and although the theater is perhaps not the best ventilated in New York and the audience is not the most reverent, the movie is worth the price of admission, as long as the first 91 minutes are skipped.

In 1990, the Selwyn was still showing movies as evidenced by this image that I captured from a video clip on YouTube about how these grind houses were fast disappearing from the Duece. In fact, by this time only the Selwyn, Lyric, Harris and Rialto (using its Seventh Ave entrance) were still hanging on. By 1992, only the Harris would remain.

This image from the same video shows the Selwyn’s marquee beckoning folks to bring the entire family down to 42nd Street to enjoy a movie. Ha! Ri-iiight…